Mavericks: 5 ways Luka Doncic can emulate Dirk Nowitzki in the playoffs

How Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic can emulate Dirk Nowitzki: 2. Takeover the game when needed

Dirk Nowitzki knew when to takeover games. During his prime, there was no stopping him as the Mavericks GOAT made defenders look silly. Dirk had no problems taking over games and finding a way to win late. This was not always a trait Nowitzki possessed though. It came after years of practice, experience, and working through failure.

Luka Doncic thrives in the spotlight. He loves the big stage, the big shot, and the excitement of it all. At a young age, he’s already accomplished a lot, but many NBA players feel the same.

Doncic can get to the basket at any moment. He finds open teammates or creates easy buckets. Luka can hit the game-winner, but he is still finding the balance late in games. The 21-year-old needs that takeover gear where he wills the Mavs to victory. All the greats have it, but it comes with experience.

Luka does well mixing his playmaking and scoring. He showed against the LA Clippers during the 2020 playoffs that he is impossible to stop. Doncic needs to find the right moments to takeover the game like Dirk Nowitzki did.

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